Twitter Lauds Dhawan & Bowlers’ Performances in India’s Win

India beat New Zealand by 8 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series.

With a comfortable 8-wicket win (via DLS) at Napier, India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series against New Zealand on Wednesday, 23 January. The visitors reached their revised target of 156 with 209 balls to spare, after an unprecedented sun-induced interruption overshadowed the on-field action.

This was after India bowled the home team out for a paltry 157 in 38 overs. Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the most successful bowler, finishing with figures of 4/39 in 10 overs, while seamer Mohammed Shami finished with an excellent 3/19 in six overs. There were also two wickets for leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.

For their performance in the series opener, Indian cricketers VVS Laxman, RP Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Mohammad Kaif lauded bowlers Shami, Kuldeep and Chahal.

Outstanding effort from Shami to begin with and then the two wrist spinners Kuldeep and Chahal completely bamboozling the NZ batsmen to bowl them out for 157.

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 23, 2019

Wah shami @MdShami11 and these two Chahal and kuldeep jeo mere Shero top bowling.. keep going so proud of you guys @yuzi_chahal @imkuldeep18 jodi no 1 🔥🔥🔥💪🏏🇮🇳

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) January 23, 2019

Clinical win to start the NZ tour !
Happy for @SDhawan25 and @MdShami11 ! pic.twitter.com/7zQG16RAOP

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) January 23, 2019

Runs for @SDhawan25 and this 1-0 lead at start of the series, shall definitely add-on to the confidence of this team. Congratulations on the positive start @imVkohli @BCCI #NZvIND

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) January 23, 2019

Suresh Raina too congratulated Shikhar Dhawan –for his unbeaten 75-run knock that helped India reach their target. He also had word of praise for Shami.

Fast & furious! Congratulations @SDhawan25 & @MdShami11 for achieving milestones only champions can! Great going👍#INDvsNZ

— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) January 23, 2019

Twitterati too celebrated India’s win and the three cricketers’ performances.

You can never predict the selection of the India XI, but I hope that the Chahal-Kuldeep partnership is persisted with. Even though I’m a Sir Jadeja fan.

— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) January 23, 2019

How wonderfully @msdhoni set up the last wicket for Kuldeep if you heard his instructions to the bowler! Terrific performance by India, terribly disappointing by New Zealand: dented by Shami, demolished by the spinners. Should be an easy chase

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 23, 2019

Walk in d park fr India against #NewZealand in 1st ODI match today.
Kuldeep Yadav with 4 wickets, Mohammed Shami with 3 &Y. Chahal with 2 mopped up d NZ team for a meagre 157. Shikar Dhawan was unbeaten at 75 and Virat Kohli 45 bringing the victory at the loss of just 2wickets. pic.twitter.com/32OAQfRpaJ

— Gitanjali D.S 🇮🇳 (@Gitanjali_DS) January 23, 2019